Combination lock



'Oct 30, 1923. 1,472,409

A DENAYER COMBINATION LOCK I Filed rch 2a. 1921 s sheets-Sheet 1 A. DENAYER QQMBINATION LOCK Filed Max ch 28. 1921 6 Shoots-Sheet 2 jgduwm' Oct. 30 1923. EAWAG A. DENAYER QOMBINATION LOCK Filed March 28. 1921 a sheetsheets Patented 539st. 36, 192

AUGUSTE DENAYEB, 'OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUIE.

COMBINATION LOCK.

Application filed March 28, 1921. Serial No. 456,131.

To aZ/l whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUeusrnDnNAYnR, a subgect oi? the Lung ofBelgium, residing at Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in LOIl'lblllfltlOll Looks (for which I have filed applications and have obtained patents in Belgium, filed Aug. 9, 1918, Patent No. 273,646; Germany, filed Sept. 19, 1917, Patent No. 310,918; France, filed Dec. 17, 1919, Patent No. 510,997; Great Britain, filed Jan. 1, 1920, Patent No. 137,530; Holland, filed Nov. 25, 1918, Patent No. 5,297; Switzerland, filed Feb. 5, 1921, Patent No. 91,503), of which the following is a speci-. fication. Y

This invention relates to a secret combi'nation lock for sates or the like, in which a. number of wheels are set by the manipulation of a single button or knob, which Wheels together form the secret word or number of the combination. 1

The object of the invention is to enable the position of each sign (letter or number) in a lock of that kind to be determined at will, independently of the other signs and without it being necessary, ashas been the case with the locks of the same kind used hitherto, to have a constant relationship between the distance apart of the consecutive signs, which always permits of the discovery of the secret of the combination by knowing the said relationship.

The lock according to the present invention is mainly characterized by an arrangement of the operation of thewheels of the combination device by means oi a single button which. on being rotated clockwise, drives a sign disc, and according to its own position relatively to the said disc, produced byrotation in the opposite directiomdetermines the number ofthe wheel driven, the sign oi which shown at this moment by in other words. the combination is provided with a numllier oi wheels, a sign disc and a single operating button which can occupy a number of different positions relatively to the sign disc. in accordance with the iiiuubei' of the heels used, the disc liQiIlQ'fl'iliDlEtl in each of the said positions to a given wheel of the combination, in order to allow of itsniovement at the desired moment. 7

in cari'v'ng out the invention in practice,

the sign discaud t-he operating button are the position of the arranged concentrically. The sign disc is rotated by the button in the clockwise direction by means of a pawl, and prevented from rotating in the opposite direction by means of a ratchet device. The operating button is rotated in the clockwise direction in order to drive the sign disc, and executes a partial rotation in the opposite direction relatively to'the sign disc, in order to produce consecutively the coupling of the various wheels, each of which must be brought into a certain position to enable the lock to be opened.

This coupling of the various wheels to the sign disc is obtained by providing the spindie of the operating button with a series of cams which,'when they are brought into a suitable position by the partial rotation of bring out of a sleeve forming the spindle for the sign disc, drivers which during the subsequent rotation of the disc in the clockwise tion, applied to the lock of a safe, is illusn trated by way of example in the accompanying drawings:

Figure, 1 :is a front elevation of the lock,

Fig. 2 a horizontal cross-section through thedoor with the lock in plan.

Fig. 3 a back view of the lock, in which the mechanism of the secret combination is shown in section on the line (l-D of Figure 7'.

liligure 41 shows in a corresponding view parts of the loci: on the bolt or in case of partial movement of with the combination an attempt to open, d toyed. i

'i igure 5 is a partial view of the position of the parts, with the bolt partly moved, when the combination has been previously set to the word or the number.

Figure 6 shows the position otthe parts t the moment of complete movement of the bolt after previous destruction the combination.

the button in the anti-clockwise direction, 7

Figure 8 shows the sign disc with theoper ating button removed. 7

Figure 9 the ratchet wheels arrangedbehind the sign disc and intended to prevent the latter trom turning in the anti-clock wise direction,

Figure 10' showsone of the wheels of the combination device.

I Figure 11 one of the separation discs between the wheels, a

Figure 12 shows separately the sleeve by means of which the si n disc can be con )led. b

to, the wheels of the combination device. Figure 13 is a section through the said sleeve, and I V Figure 14 shows in elevation and in three difi'erent sections, the sleeve which is used as a cam shaft for coupling the wheels of the combination device to the sign disc.

In the construction illustrated, it has been assumed that the lock has been fitted to the door lot a safe (Figures 1 and 2) V The bolt 2 of the lock is moved by means of a button 3 provided, on the inner side of the door 1, with a disc 4 with two driver pins 5Iand 6, Figures 3"and 4, which engage with a recess 7 of the bolt. This kind of control of the bolt is immaterial andif desired may be replaced by some other operating device, for instance a key.

The bolt 2 is guided by means of a slot 8 which has a stud 9 passing therethrough. On the said bolt is mounted an arm 10 pivoted at 11 and controlled by a spring 12 which tends to keep it in engagement with a stop pin 13. I

If it is attempted to move the bolt 2 in order to open the door 1, the pointed end 14 of the arm 10-will engage with a recess 15 of a lever 16 which establishes mechanical connection of the lock proper with the combination device. and in the position indicated, renders impossible any movement of the bolt (Figure 4). V

Inthe construction illustrated, the lever 16 swings about the point 17 on the base plate of a drum 19, Figures 3 and 7, secured to the plate 18 by means of screws 20. The plate 18 is in its turn screwed to the door 1.- The drum 19 contains the combina tion device proper which, in theconstruction illustrated, comprises four wheels 21, 22, 23, 24, Figure 7. each. of which is provided, as shownin Figur'e 10, with twenty six notches 25, assuming that the secret com .bination is to be formed by letters. The

wheels 21-24 are loosely mounted in the drum 19 inwhich they are carefully centered'b v the wall of the drum. They are separated fromeach other by discs 26, Figure 11'," which are secured in an" invariable position in the drum 19 by a projection 27 engaging with a groove 28,-Figure3, in the 'wall of the drum.

recesses 29 are intended, as will be Xplained further on, to receivea transverse bar 31 7 provided at the end of a lever 16 projecting into the drum 19. through a lateral opening 32. Thelever 16 is controlled by a spring 33. In order to keep the wheels 21+24 in the position. given to them by the driving or operating device described below, pawls 3" rotatably mounted at 35 on the outer circumferenc'e of the drum 19 and controlled I by springs 36, project through an opening in the wall of the drum and engage with.

In order not to interfere the notches 25.

with the action of the said pawls, each disc M 26 isprovided with a corresponding recess 38. Figure 11. The discs 26 are moreover each provlded with garecess 39, which as shown dotted inFigure 3, corresponds to.

the opening 32 in the drum, through which passes the cross-bar 31 of the lever 16. "in

these conditions, the discs 26, when the re cesses 29 of the four wheels 2l 24 coincide,

that is to say are set in the same radial vertical plane passing through the bar 31 of engagement oi the cross-bar 31 with the recesses 29. In this way, as is mentioned later on, the locking of the bolt is destroyed.

It will be seen that ifeach of the wheels 21, 22, 23, 24 is coupled to the letter disc in order to be brought to the above. position, the four wheels give, when the four the lever 16, do not offer any obstacle to the lilll corresponding letters on the sign disc are 7 read consecutively. a certain word which forms the secret of the combination. "This driving or operation is effected in the tol lowingmanner: r V

" A spindle 40,Figures 3 and 7, passing through the centre of the drum 19, carries a sleeve 41 which adapt-edto turn with the said spindle in a second sleeve 42.. The latter, is'centered by means of a journal portion 43 turningin the bottom of the drum 19, and by means of a bearing surfaceinthe plate 18. The sleeve 41 is coupled to the spindle 4O bymeans of a pin 41 Figure '14, engaging with a groove 41, otthe' spindle 40, so that the sleeve 41 participates'in the i rotation of the spindle 40. .Therspindle 4D and the sleeve/l2 surrounding the same, pass through the wall 1 and terminate at their front ends in'square' wrench portions45 and 46 respectively, Figure 9.

On the square .46 ismounted aletter disc- 4? resting against the wall 1, and the square 45carriesan operating button 48. Betweenthe letter disc and the button 48, on the spindle 40 is mounted wheel 49" with a number of notches 50, Figure 8-, which corresponds to the number of the wheels 21-24 in the drum 19., lVith one of the said screwed to the wall 1.

Owing to this arrangement, the spindle 40, on the button 48 being turned in the the latter between itself and the toothed rack 55, so that the sleeve 42 and the disc 47 are prevented from participating in the rotation. The spindle 40 thus rotates alone with the notched wheel 49 which becomes disengaged from the pawl 51. This rotation continues until the moment when the pawl 51, under the action of the spring 52, springs into the next notch 50 of the wheel 49.

r The operating button 48 can therefore drive the letter disc 47' only when turned in the clockwise direction; in the opposite direction it rotates alone to fractional extents determined by the notches'5O of the wheel 49, and accordingly, in the construction adopted, assumes consecutively four different positions relatively to the letter disc 47 which are indicated on the button by the figures 1, 2, 3, 4 marked on it, Figure'1, and which are brought consecutively under an index 80 of the letter disc;

The sleeve 42 is provided, in the plane of each of the wheels 21-24, with an opening 58, Figures 12 and-13, in which is mounted on a pin '59 alocking pawl with a hook 61. .The'sleeve 41 placed. over the spindle 40, acts as a cam shaft which determines the position of the locking pawls 60. To that end, the sleeve 41 is provided at its circumference with grooves 62, 63, 64, Figure 14, of different length, with which engage the locking pawls 60. In the con struction illustrated, in which the combination device comprises fourwheels 21.22, 23, 24,. the sleeve 41 has four cams. The first cam is constituted by the full or solid circumferential surface of the sleeve, whilst the other three cams are formed, as shown by the cross section in Figure 14, by the bottom surfaces of the grooves 62, 63, 64.

If, in; a; given position of the sleev'e4l,

relatively to the sleeve 42 (that is to say, of the operating knob 48 relatively to the letter plate 47) the sleeve 41 faces with its solid or full face the openings 58 of the sleeve 42, the four locking pawls 60 in the openings 58, are turned outwards, so that they are brought into the position shown in dotted line in Figure 13 or in full line in Fig. 3, in which the hook 61 projects from the sleeve 42.

If however the knob 48 is moved through a quarter revolution in the anti-clockwise direction relatively to the letter disc 47, one of the grooves of the sleeve 41, for instance the groove 64, is brought opposite the corresponding opening of the sleeve 42 so that during the subsequent joint movement of the two sleeves 41 and 42 in the clockwise direction, the corresponding pawl 60 remains in its opening. ()wing to the different circum ferential lengths of the grooves 62, 63, 64, each of the pawls 60 may be rendered inoperative by a partial rotation of the sleeve 41 relatively to the sleeve .42, with the e ception of that pawl which rests permanently against the circumference of the sleeve 41 and for which no groove is provided.

The hooks 61 of the pawls 60 bring about the driving of the wheels 21-24 by acting on a driver 65 of a rim 66, Figures 3 and 10, provided inside each of the wheels. This rim is situated at times in the same plane as the wheel, has the same thickness and is connected so as to participate in its rotation in an arbitrarily variable manner, for the purpose of selecting the sign that is to form a part of the secret combination.

In the construction illustrated, each of the wheels 21, 22, 23, 24 has a central bore 67 within which is mounted the corresponding rim 66. The latter is provided at its circumference with twenty-six notches 68 with which engage two pawls 69, 70, Figure 10, mounted in recesses 71 of the wheel and controlled by the action of a double-acting spring ring 72 mounted in a circumferential groove of the wheel. By means of the two pawls. 69, 70, the rim 66 is perfectly coupled to thecorresponding wheel so as to rotate with it. The position of each rim relatively to the wheel. may be easily modified, however, by making the pawl inoperative by the introduction of a pin 73 into a milled recess '74 having the shape, for instance, of three quarters of a circle.

()wing to the position of the recess 74 relatively to the recess 29 in each wheel 21, 22, 23, 24, all the recesses 74 are in alignment with each other and an opening 75 of the drum 19 when the recesses 29 are in one and the same radial plane. The pin 73 (Figure 7) may then be introduced through the opening 75 and pass through all the wheels as well as through the holes 76, Figare 11, in the intermediate discs 26, so that it will lift out the 1pawls 70 otthe'four' wheels 21, 22, 23, 2 1 and at the Sametime prevent the said wheels from rotating.

The lock described in the foregoing, as

:will be seen more particularly in Figures. 3

and 7, is so arranged that the spindle .40 is held in the drum 19 by means of a nut 77 screwed on its screw-threaded end. The .but-

ton 18 is secured to the square of the .spindle 40 by means of a countersunk screw rendered invisible in a suitable manner. The wall 1 has an index 79 intended to the positionv of the letter d1scy47 and the latter has in its turn an index 80 by. means of which the various positions of the button 48 relatively to the letter disc may be conveniently set. The lock proper is completed by a stop 81 secured to the bolt 2 and limiting the downward movement of the lever 16. and

by a slide 82 provided with a projection 83,

controlled by a spring 84. and normally engaging with the stop 85 ofthe. bolt.

These auxiliary parts contribute to ensure perfect action of the lock and. to render in1-. POSSlblG any unauthorized opening of the same.

The working of the arrangement is as 'lol-. lows: 1

When the lock is closed, the parts occupy the position shOWn in Figure The projection 83 of the slide 82 rests on the lever 16 at 86 and holds it lowered to such an e2:- tent that the cross-bar 31 is out of engagement with the notches 25 of: the wheels 21, 22. 23, 24 which can therefore be turned by the operating button 48. If an attempt is made to move the bolt by means oi the button 3 -.pawls 60 drive the four wheels 21,22; 23,24.

or by means of a key takingits place, its arm 10 strikes the lever 16 as already explained and as shown in Figure 4. The opening is therefore impossible. In order to makeit possible, the cross bar 31. of the lever 16 must drop into the recesses 29 of the wheels 21,22, 23. 24, so as to enable the lever 16 to assume a more horizontal position. as shown ure 1, its number 1 is brought under the inden .80 arranged below the letter A of the letter disc 47. The sleeve 11, Figure 14., then assumes such a. position relatively to the sleeve t2 that the four pawls 60 are forced out of their openings 58 by the solid circumference. of the sleeve 41... The button 48 is thereupon turned in the direction of the arrow 56,- Figures 1 and 8. The button then drives the letter disc e7 :by means of the notched wheel 49 and the pawl; 51. and the drivers 65. This otation is continued until i the first letter of the secret word appears under the index 7 9. 'Thereupon the button 18 is againturned in the direction of the arrow 57 in order to bring the number 20f the button under the index 80 of theletter disc 17. During this movement the letter disc remains stationary, for, as: already plained, it. is held. last owing to the jam; ming of the toothed wheel 54between the wheel 53 and the toothed rack 55. Owing to the rotationot' the spindle 4C0, the sleeve 41 is moved relatively to the sleeve and brings oneof the grooves. say 64.,under the corresponding pawl 60, so that the latter is forced back into its opening and can nof longe drivethe corresponding wheel which thus remains stationary in the position ZlV en to it. Thefirst wheel isthus set to the first letter of the word. Thcreuponthe hutton lS is again turned in the direction of the arrow 56. the letter disc ibeing (.riven until the moment when the second lette of the secretword is under the index 79, whereuponthe button as is again turned-in the direction ofthe arrow 57 until the number 3 of the button is helow the index 86. Durins; that time the disc 47 remains stationary, whilst owingto the rotation of the sleeve 41 relatively to the sleeve 42, another pawlv 60 is forced back into the corresponding groove,- for instance 63, of the-sleeve 41, owing to which the second wheel of the combination device is set to the second letter of the secret word. As regards the third and the fourth letters of the word the proceeding is exactly the same. 7 i lVhen in this. way the four letters have been consecutively brought under the index 79, the bolt 2 is pushed back by means of the button 3 or of a key. The projection 83 re leases thenthe endSGofthe lever 16. and'the latter underthe action oi" the springBEl.

drops with its cross-bar 31 into the recesses 29 of the wheels 21, 22; 23; 2 1; which are now' all situated in, the same radial plane. By

continuing" to push the bolt2rby'means of completely open position, the leverJl6' must .be lowered again in orderto 'releasethe pro; jection 831mm the finger 88. Thisis effecte'd hydestroyi-ng the secret word. To 7 that end, the button 18 is againturned in the rection of the arrow 56 (clockwise).

direction of the arrow- 57 so that the number 1 of the button is brought under the letter A and the index of the letter disc 4:7, whereupon the button 18 and the letter disc at are given a complete revolution in the di- During this rotation the four wheels 21, 2-2, 23, 24 are also rotated and the cam faces 30 of the recesses 29 are forced against the cross bar 31 lifting the latter. The lever 16, owing to this movement assisted by the thrust of the slide 82 due to the action of the spring as depresses the lever 10in opposition to the action of its spring 12, and the parts are brought into the position shown in Figure 6 in which, as will be seen, the slide 82 has passed in front of the finger 88 of the lever 16 and engaged again. with the stop under the action of the spring 84:. The bolt 2 can then be moved by means of the button 3 or key in order to open the lock completely. Iftlie bolt is then advanced again, all the parts are again brought into the position shown in Figure 3, in which any opening without the knowledge or" the secret word, is rendered impossible.

If i is desired to alter the secret word, it is merely necessary, with the door open and after setting to the secret word used at the time, to introduce the pin 73 into the opening 7 5 of the drum 19. The pin then locks in the manner already explained, the wheels 21, 22, 23, 2 1 and lifts out the pawls 70, so that by means of the button 48, in the same way as for setting the word, each of the rims 66 can be turned consecutively into the position corresponding to the desired let-- ter, it being merely necessary to set the corresponding letter under the index 79. If the pin 73 is then withdrawn again, the wheels 21,22, 23, 2 1 will be again coupled to their rims, and the lock is ready to answer to the new secret word.

It will be seen that the numbers 1, 2, 3, t on the button 4:8, the object of which is to facilitate the setting of the said button in the consecutive positions relatively to the letter disc. indicate in reality the sequence of the wheels 21, 22. 23, 2 1 which are brought consecutively into position of the combination. It would also be possib e, without difficulty, to use a still greater (and of course a smaller) number of wheels, provided that the button 18 is given a corresponding number of positions relatively to the letter disc 1-7 and thatthe sleeve 41 is fitted with a corresponding number of cams, so that in each new position of the button as, one of the wheels 21, 22, 23, 24: is no longer driven by its pawl 60.

The invention is of course not limited to the constructional details adopted in the example illustrated. There is a considerable latitude in the selection of detail for carry.- ing out the objects of the invention. It is the releasing I also obvious that the lock itself may be replaced by any other suitable construction cooperating with the combination device forming the main characteristic feature of the invention. The lock described however presents advantages in as far as it is closely connected to the parts of the combination (leviceand does not allow of any movement of the bolt unless previously set correctly; again, it does not allow of any turning of the letter disc of the combination device until the bolt has been completely advanced, as in this case the projection 83 of the slide 82 releases the projection 86 of the lever 16, so that the latter, under the action of the spring engages with the opening 32 ot the drum l9 and engages with its crossbar with the right angle notches 25 of the wheels 21, 22, 23, 2 1 so that the latter, and therefore the letter disc, are prevented from turning.

In order therefore to enable the letter disc 47 to be turned in the clockwise direction, and the secret word to be set, the bolt must be completely advanced; during that time the wheels 2124 may be moved without the least noise or knock which in other kinds of secret locks, make it possible to guess the position corresponding to the letters set.

What I claim is:

1. In a combination lock, the combination of a spindle, a plurality of wheels and means between the spindle and said wheels for' successively bringing the same into a definite angular relationship with each other, said means including mechanism operative to separately intercouple the spindle and the wheels to rotate the latter when the spindle is moved in one direction and operative to successively uncouple the said wheels by movement of the site direction.

2. In a combination lock, the combination of a spindle, a. plurality ,of wheels and, means between the spindle and said wheels for successively bringing the same into a definite angular relationship with each other, said means including mechanism operative to separately intcrcouple the spindle and the wheels to rotate the latter when the spindle is rotated in one direction and operative to successively uncouple the wheels when the spindle is moved to different an gular extents in opposite direction.

3. In a combination lock, the combination of a spindle, a plurality of wheels mounted concentrically to the spindle, a cam sleeve surrounding the spindle and rotatable therewith, a second sleeve surrounding the cam sleeve, means operative to couple the second sleeve with the spindle when the latter is rotated in one direction and to hold it stationary when the spindle is rotated in opposite direction, pawls on the second sleeve movable in radial direction, the cam sleeve being constructed and arranged to successpindle in oppoioo 'ill) I letter disk to rotate interdependent-ly when.

sively move the said pawls outwardly when the spindle is moved to difierent extents relatively to the second sleeve andmeans between the separable wheels and the separate paWls for eilectinga coupling there-between for rotation in one direction when the spin die and the two sleeves are rotated together.

etpln a combination lock, the combina tion of a spindle, a. plurality of Wheels mounted concentrically to the spindle, a letterdislr; means between thespindle, the letter disk and'the wheels for operatively intercoupling the separate wheels and the the spindle is rotated in one direction and for maintaining the some stationary when :the spindle is rotated in the opposite direc rotated in the oppositedirection.

in a combination lock, the combination of a spindle, a ,phnrality of wheels concentric wi h the spindle. a letter disk concentric with the spindle, separate coupling men1- hers between the spindle and the wheels. means on the spindle constructed and arranged to successively make the. ililt'crent coupling members inoperative whenthe spindle is rotated to different angular e tents in one direction, means constructed and arranged to angularly move the coupling members: with the spindle only when the latter rotated in opposite direction and means for rotating the letter disk in one direction concurrently with the angular niovement of the coupling; inemhers.

In a minlii nation icon, the. coiuhiiu tion at a spindle. a plurality oi wheels concentric With-tne spindle, a letter disk eoncentric with the spindle, a sleeve surrounds inc the spindle and carrying a plurality of coupling members adapted to operatively engage the separate wheels for movement thereof in one direction, means between the spindle, the letter disk and the sleeve for interdependently rotating the letter disk and the sleeve when the spindle is rotated. in one direction and for maintaining the same stationary when the spindle is rotated in opposite direction, and means on the spindle operative, when the spindle is rotated to different angular extents relatively to said sleeve to successively make said coupling members ineltective.

9. In a combination loclg-the combination of a. spindle, a letter disk concentric with the spindle, means on' the spindle and the letter disk effective as a coupling when the spindle rotatedin one. direction and inefi'ective a coup-ling whenthe spindle is rotated in the op posite direction, and means for maintaining the letter disk stationary when the spindle is rotatedin'saidjopposite direction.

10. In a combination lock, the co-mhina' centric therewith, couplings between the spindle and the separatewheels operative to; normally impart rotary motion to the wheels when the spindle is rotated in one direct-ion and to he inoperative when the spindle rotated in the opposite direction, separate means for making the separate couplings ineffective independently of said first means, a letter disk and means for interconnecting the spindle and the letter disk to cause the latter'to move with the spindle 'when the latter is moved in the direction in which motion is normally imparted to the wheels and to maintain the letter disk stationary when the spindle is rotated in opposite direction. a a

12. In a. combination lock, the combination of a spindle, a plurality of wheels, a letter disk, a plurality of coupling members normally co-operating with the respective v/heels to angularl-y move then'i in one direction, a sleeve surrounding the spindle and"supportingthe said coupling members,

means intercoiuiecting the spindle. the letter disk and the said-sleeve to cause the letter disk and the sleeve to rotate whenfthe spindle. is rotated in one direction and to remain stationary wh en the spindle is rotated in the opposite direction, means connected with the spindle for making Jitld coupling members successively ineffective when the spindle is rotated to; different extent-s in such opposite direction and means for varying the angular relation between each wheel and its; coupling member.

In testimony whereof l have ailixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUSTE DENAYER. Witnesses:

BUDEN, T. J. ZALUER. 

